Wes Hoolahan

Infobox Football biography
playername = Wes Hoolahan


fullname = Wesley Hoolahan
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1982|5|20|df=yes
cityofbirth = Dublin
countryofbirth = Republic of Ireland
height = 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
position = Midfielder
currentclub = Norwich City
clubnumber = 14
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 2000–2006
2006–2007
2006–2007
2007–2008
2008–
clubs = Shelbourne
Livingston
→ Blackpool (loan)
Blackpool
Norwich
caps(goals) = 133 (11)
016 0(0)
042 0(8)
045 0(5)
009 0(0)
nationalyears = 2002
2007
2008–
nationalteam = Republic of Ireland U21
Republic of Ireland B
Republic of Ireland
nationalcaps(goals) = 003 0(0)
001 0(0)
001 0(0)
pcupdate = 20:56, 30 September 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 21:03, 29 May 2008 (UTC)

Wesley "Wes" Hoolahan (born 20 May 1982 in Dublin, Ireland) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a left midfielder for English club Norwich City.

Club career

Early career

Hoolahan started his career at Shelbourne where he won three League of Ireland championships and excelled during their run in the Champions League qualifiers in the 2004-05 season. He was the PFAI Young Player of the Year in the 2002-03 season.

Blackpool

On 21 July 2006, Hoolahan joined Blackpool on a season-long loan. He scored his first goal for the club on 30 September 2006, a penalty in a 3–0 win over Leyton Orient at Bloomfield Road.cite web | title=results/fixtures Blackpool v Leyton Orient | work=Soccerbase | date=2006-09-30 | url=http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=497082 | accessdate=2007-09-17] On 15 December 2006, he scored a goal and was sent off in a 3–1 win at Scunthorpe.cite web | title=results/fixtures Scunthorpe v Blackpool | work=Soccerbase | date=2006-09-30 | url=http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=504707 | accessdate= 2007-09-17]

In June 2007, Hoolahan signed a two-year contract with Blackpool. Livingston, however, refused to sign the documentation sanctioning the move, stating that Blackpool had repeatedly breached the terms of the loan agreement. Blackpool denied any such default, and referred the matter to the Football Association. With Livingston being backed by the Scottish Football Association the matter was passed to FIFA for a decision to be made on the player's future.cite news | title = Livingston block Hoolahan switch | publisher=BBC Sport | date=2007-06-05 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/blackpool/6722893.stm | accessdate=2007-09-17] On 10 August 2007, FIFA ruled in Blackpool's favour, thus confirming Hoolahan as a Blackpool player.cite news | title = Pool handed bonus ahead of opener | publisher=Blackpool F.C. | date=2007-08-11 | url=http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10432~1089376,00.html | accessdate=2007-09-17] Although FIFA are still to decide the fee to be paid, or if Livingston are entitled to any compensation.cite news | title=How the Wes was won | publisher=Blackpool Gazette | date=2007-08-13 | url=http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sports-news/How-the-Wes-was-won.3105579.jp | accessdate=2007-09-17] On 11 September 2007, FIFA confirmed that Livingston's claim for compensation was still pending.cite news | title=Hoolagate: FIFA still dragging their feet | publisher=Blackpool Gazette | date=2007-09-11 | url=http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sports-news/Hoolagate-FIFA-still-dragging-their.3190123.jp | accessdate=2007-09-17]

After being linked with possible moves to over ten Championship clubs throughout the 2007-08 season, in May 2008 Charlton Athletic were linked with a possible official bid for Hoolahan.cite news
last = Canavan
first = Steve
title= Addicks in Pool player chase
publisher= Blackpool Gazette
date=2008-05-27
url=http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sports-news/Addicks-in-Pool-player-chase.4121632.jp
accessdate=2008-05-28] Both he and fellow Blackpool player Kaspars Gorkšs were also linked with a move to Norwich City.cite news
last = Canavan
first = Steve
title= Canaries eyeing up Seasiders stars
publisher= Blackpool Gazette
date=2008-05-29
url=http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sports-news/Canaries-eyeing-up-Seasiders-stars.4130848.jp
accessdate=2008-05-30]

Norwich

On 26 June 2008, Norwich City confirmed the deal to bring Hoolahan on a three-year player-plus-cash deal. Norwich reserve team keeper, Matthew Gilks, moved in the opposite direction along with an undisclosed amount of money.cite news
url=http://www.canaries.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetails/0,,10355~1322187,00.html]

International career

Hoolahan has been capped at under-21 level for the Republic of Ireland.cite news | title=International call up for Hoolahan | publisher=Blackpool F.C. | date=2007-11-08 | url=http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10432~1163042,00.html | accessdate=2007-12-26] While at Shelbourne, he was an unused substitute in Don Givens' first game in charge of the Republic of Ireland, a 0–0 draw against Greece in November 2002.cite news | title=International call up for Hoolahan | publisher=Blackpool F.C. | date=2007-11-08 | url=http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10432~1163042,00.html | accessdate=2007-12-26]

Hoolahan was named in the Republic of Ireland "B" squad on 8 November 2007, for the match against Scotland on 20 November at the Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie.cite news | title=Connor and Gartland earn 'B' call-up | publisher=RTÉ | date=2007-11-08 | url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2007/1108/irelandb.html | accessdate=2007-11-08] Hoolahan played in the match, which ended in a 1–1 draw.cite news | title=Ireland pegged back by late strike | publisher=The Irish Times | date=2007-11-20 | url=http://www.ireland.com/sports/soccer/2007/1120/1195251588684.html | accessdate=2007-11-20]

In April 2008, Giovanni Trapattoni included Hoolahan in his preliminary forty-man squad for the friendly matches against Serbia on 24 May and Colombia on 29 May.cite news | title = Hoolahan Gets Ireland Call-Up | publisher= Blackpool F.C. | date=2008-04-11 | url=http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10432~1285399,00.html | accessdate=2008-04-11] On 13 May it was confirmed that Hoolahan had made the 28-man squad and that he would be joining a training camp in Portugal on 15 May in preparation for the matches.cite news | title = Hoolahan Gets Republic Nod | publisher= Blackpool F.C. | date=2008-05-13 | url=http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10432~1311689,00.html | accessdate=2008-05-13] He came on as a 70th minute substitute in a practice match which the Irish team drew 1–1 with Portuguese Liga de Honra club side Portimonense.cite news
title= Seasider's Irish appearance
publisher= Blackpool Gazette
date=2008-05-20
url=http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpool-football-club/Seasider39s-Irish-appearance.4099790.jp
accessdate=2008-05-22] He was an unused substitute in Ireland's 1–1 draw with Serbia at Croke Park in Dublin. Five days later he came on as a second half substitute in the 1–0 win over Colombia held in England at Craven Cottage.cite news
last = Canavan
first = Steve
title= International debut for Seasiders' Wes
publisher= Blackpool Gazette
date=2008-05-30
url=http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sports-news/International-debut-for-Seasiders39-Wes.4136141.jp
accessdate=2008-05-30]

Honours

Team

Shelbourne
*League of Ireland championships (3): 2001-02, 2003, 2004

Blackpool
*League One play-off final winner: 2006-07

Individual

On 2 April 2007, Hoolahan was named in the Press Association's League One "Team of the Week", alongside teammate Paul Rachubka.cite news | title=League One Team of the week (02/04/2007) | publisher=The Football League | date=2007-09-17 | url=http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/staticFiles/f7/e/0,,10794~69367,00.pdf | format=PDF | accessdate=2007-09-17]

Later that month, he was named in the PFA's League One "Team of the Year".cite news | title=Ronaldo secures PFA awards double (PFA League One Team of the Year) | publisher=BBC Sport | date=2007-04-22 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6582201.stm#leagueone | accessdate=2007-09-17]

On 17 September 2007, Hoolahan was named in The Championship team of the week.cite news | title=Championship Team of the week (17/09/2007) | publisher=The Football League | date= | accessdate=2007-09-17]

References

External links

* [http://www.canaries.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10355~30445,00.html Wes Hoolahan profile] at canaries.co.uk
*soccerbase|43134|Wes Hoolahan
* [http://indigo.ie/~bvr/Wes.htm "Wesley Hoolahan" by Phillip Quinn]

Persondata
NAME=Hoolahan, Wesley
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Hoolahan, Wes
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Footballer
DATE OF BIRTH=1982-05-20
PLACE OF BIRTH=Dublin, Republic of Ireland
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=